(erielack) EL auto racks - the authoritative answer

[paultup_@_optonline.net]

Thanks to Bill Herkner for forwarding this request to Art Erdman, former EL tower operator and dispatcher, for the "official" word on the Ford auto racks. Kudos to Art!

    - Paul

The dedicated Ford Mahwah train was DN90. In the mid 1960's, its was
designated 90/20. 20 was the number of a former DL&W Buffalo to Hoboken fast
freight. After Conrail came about in 1976, DN90 was designated FM4. Most of
the eastbound manifest freights on the EL had Ford cars. NE74, NE6, BH4,
HF98 (PO98 on the NY Divn). In later years when F.J.Boutell unloaded autos
in Jersey City, 90 would have the Jersey City autos on the rear end. The
auto racks would be cut away at KW (east end of Croxton yard) and a Haul
would deliver them to JC via the Bergen Archways as they would not fit in
the Erie Bergen Tunnel. As I recall, General Motors had a large presence in
JC. Chrysler had their unloading facility at Mount Pocono, PA. Many
railroads had cars in the auto parts pool. Penn Central, N&W, DT&I, TTX (90
ft. flats which carried automobile and truck frames), TTBX (bi level auto
racks), TTKX, Grand Trunk, Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo, Southern etc, etc.
Many 50 foot double door boxcars were used as were many 90 foot HiCube
boxcars. Parts were also received from the Penn Central at Marion Junction
(Jersey City). Westbound trains that picked up loaded auto racks for the
west and south were ND91 (Buffalo) and NY 97 (Chicago). The empty cars were
predominantly taken west either by the westbound 300PM Ordinary or by
ordering DN90 from Port Jervis with a Turn Around crew which delivered the
Ford cars and then gathered up the empty cars and took them west to Port
Jervis. Usually, the Paterson Ordinary (or the "Paterson Gang") handled the
westbound ordered Ford cars from Croxton. This crew would also take whatever
westbound cars were ready from Mahwah to Port Jervis. The Ford Motor Company
had their Eastern Parts Distribution Center at Teterboro, which also
received HiCube cars of parts from EL.    AJErdman

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